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I'm writing something

I won't call it a story but I'm writing something. I have the general idea in my head, I've got most of it planned out, but I need substance.

I've got questions for someone that's sculpted before, statues, busts, anything. Mostly about the creative process involved, planning, inspiration, subject matter and why. Materials and tools used and how such things are used would also be a good help.

Also speaking to a metalwork engineer or a fabricator would help, someone that knows about different alloys and materials, particularly things like melting temperatures of those materials, best ways of making a strong join between two pieces of metal, any hints or tips or any useful information they can think of that might be useful if I was building a strong framework.

Sculpting information is far more important though. I'm sure I could look up the engineering stuff.

I would suggest you write in the "skeleton" or outline. If you become really invested in your story you'll be reading it over and over again. As you go back over you will add more meat, change words and tweak scenes. Keep your mind open really, and don't be quick to delete things. Think deeply and record some thoughts if your out and something pops in your mind. Most importantly don't be hard on yourself if you aren't consistent writing or you don't like something about it. You can always change things, just know it changes other things further on in the story to keep a steady flow. Hope this helps!

I want to talk to people about it Nate, not consult a lowbred encyclopedia that's had every Tom, Dick and Harry's fingers in it. Thank you very much for the link but if you have nothing helpful to add, don't post here.

All I can offer (which isn't much) is that two metals can either be joined by soldering (pronounced 'SAW-ter-ing') or welding. The latter I know nothing about but solder is generally a 60-40 mix of tin-lead and for non-electronics applications it has an acid core. Solder comes like wire wound on a spool and basically you apply the soldering iron to the surface you want to join and then take a peice of solder and melt it to the hot spot. Maybe that was no help but that's all I got. Oh also although I'm not a sculptor I've noticed that many artist are very invested in their hands. Their tactile senses are highly developed and part of the process of creating something is the sensual experience of working it through their hands. Just a thought hope it helps.

I never sculpted a tiny bit seriously but I remember what my painting teacher used to do.... First he'd do tons of sketches and studies. Then he'd make a statue (bust, whatever) in clay or plaster. Plaster gives more rough look and tends to be more "expressive". Clay is capable of more "realistic" sculpting. In the case of plaster and with large clay projects, one has to build skeleton first - a construction of wood or wires that will support the material.

When the model is finished, it is taken to the workshop where the molds are made and then hot metal of choice is poured into mold. This part is not done by the artist. This is expensive part of the sculpting so more often than not, it is done only after there is a buyer for the sculpture.

Tools are sculpting knives, palette knives, fingers and basically (as with any other art) anything one gets and find a way to improvise with. I remember all sizes of sticks, small planks, kitchen knives, nails and all sorts of things around my teacher. Rugs, nets and similar stuff can be used for making textures on the surface.

Model is placed on a sculpting tripod or quadripod. It is sturdy and made of wood. Surface where the model sits can be rotated. It's not the same as the clay wheel which rotates somewhat fast whether by leg power or electricity and which is used for making vases, plates and similar stuff. This one rotates only to allow artist to approach different angles of the sculpture as needed without moving around (and thus getting in the shadow or something). One I remember was high enough to allow working in standing position.

While not working on it, clay model is wrapped in wet rugs so the clay stay wet and avoid cracking. Also, it sometimes need to be sprayed to get back some moisture. I guess spray bottles are regular tool, but my teacher, rough guy as he is, used to get water in his mouth and then spray it through his lips. Yes, that would make a mess in the studio, but I can't imagine studio that is not messy anyway.

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